South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

EasyMed Supplies, multifaceted approach addresses affordability and accessibility of medical equipment faced by the healthcare community, as well as the scarcity of relevant educational resources in the African context.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Equipment Rental for Students: we recognised that healthcare students often struggle to afford training equipment due to financial constraints. To address this challenge, we offer an equipment rental service tailored specially tor students. Equipment retail Access: Healthcare professionals often require immediate access to essential equipment for patient care, and delays in acquiring equipment can have serious consequences. EasyMed mitigates this risk by proactively stocking a wide range of medical equipment for retail. EasyMed EduHub: This online hub serves as a collaborative space where industry professionals, academics, and practitioners can share knowledge, best practices, and research findings relevant to African healthcare challenges. Through the EduHub, EasyMed aims to bridge the gap in healthcare education by providing a wealth of culturally sensitive and contextually relevant educational resources. By empowering healthcare professionals with access to comprehensive education

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

- Affordability, accessibility and availability of medical equipment. - lack of contextual African fitting assessments and intervention models in healthcare.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Our rental services provide an economically viable alternative, especially for Health Sciences students who often face financial constraints. EasyMed Supplies seeks to provide timely access to medical equipment. By maintaining a proactive inventory management system. We aim to provide alternative tools and easy-to-use manuals to ensure effective utilization of the equipment. This educational support is particularly beneficial for students, as it enhances their learning and practical skills.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our primary target beneficiaries are students enrolled in health sciences programs. Students that often require access to specialized medical equipment for their training and practical sessions. Practicing healthcare professionals who need access to affordable and readily available medical equipment also benefit from our services. Universities, colleges, and training centers that offer health sciences programs. Partnering with EasyMed Supplies allows these institutions to provide a more comprehensive educational experience without the need to invest heavily in purchasing and maintaining large inventories of medical equipment.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-08-04

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Lungelo Makhanya holds a bachelor’s degree in administration, majoring in Supply Chain and Public Administration from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. He was part of Enactus which is a global student organization that seeks to address social issues using innovative business solution. Through Enactus, he gained practical experience in business development and was the Westville Campus Research & Development Officer at the University of Kwa Zulu Natal. He’s also received business coaching from Innovate Durban a non profit company aimed at supporting innovators and innovation in the region.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://easymedsupplies.co.za/ ; https://www.instagram.com/easymedsupplies?igsh=MW04bjQyamtqbW04ZQ==

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

2

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

EasyMed Supplies directly contributes to SDG 3 by improving access to essential medical equipment for both healthcare professionals and students. Affordability is a significant barrier to accessing quality healthcare equipment. We address this issue by providing low-cost rental options. We support the education and training of Health Sciences students by providing access to essential medical equipment and educational tools. By fostering innovation and sustainability in healthcare, EasyMed Supplies supports the broader objectives of SDG 3, which include the development of sustainable health systems and the efficient use of resources.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

By ensuring that students have the tools they need for practical training, EasyMed Supplies directly supports the goal of inclusive and equitable quality education. The reduction in financial barriers caused by our rental option helps ensure that education is accessible to all students, regardless of their economic background. By partnering with educational institutions, EasyMed Supplies helps schools, colleges, and universities provide their students with up-to-date and relevant medical equipment, sharpening their practical skills in medical equipment use. EasyMed Supplies provides alternative tools and manuals that aid in the effective utilization of medical equipment. These resources are invaluable for both students and educators, helping to improve the quality of instruction and learning

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

2

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

EasyMed Supplies contributes to sustained economic growth by creating job opportunities within the enterprise. This includes roles in inventory management, customer service, sales, logistics, and administrative functions, of which we aim to hire locally. Healthcare facilities, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as specialized practices, benefit from EasyMed Supplies' affordable equipment solutions. By reducing the financial burden of purchasing expensive medical equipment, these SMEs can operate more sustainably and invest in expanding their services.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

2

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

2

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

2

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

2

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

2

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

2

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

4

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

4

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

5

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

5

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

4

06.08 Justification for my startup

EasyMed Supplies is unique and innovative due to its comprehensive approach to addressing critical challenges in the healthcare and education sectors. Unlike traditional suppliers, we offer a rental service for medical equipment, which significantly reduces financial barriers for Health Sciences students and healthcare facilities. This model maximizes the use of equipment, extends its lifecycle, and minimizes waste, promoting sustainability. Additionally, we provide alternative tools and educational manuals to enhance the effective utilization of the equipment, ensuring that users can maximize their learning and professional skills. By proactively stocking necessary equipment and offering rental options, we eliminate long waiting times and high costs associated with purchasing from abroad, thus ensuring timely access to essential tools.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main potential competitors include traditional medical equipment suppliers, online medical supply retailers, like Genop and MedEquip. What sets EasyMed Supplies apart is our dedicated focus on health sciences students and the educational sector, offering affordable rental options that are not typically provided by conventional suppliers. Unlike competitors who primarily sell equipment, our rental model ensures cost-effective and timely access to necessary tools, which is especially beneficial for students and smaller healthcare facilities with limited budgets.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

I am currently the deputy president of EnactusUKZN , a non-profit organization that promotes entrepreneurialism in students. Although I manage a team that also consists of males,. There are also enterprises that are female establied and are ran by them.